A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:2-16

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

REFLECTION: "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Moses permitted divorce because the people wanted it. Under the Mosaic Law, a man could divorce his wife without reason. Jesus taught differently . God made man and female. The union in marriage is a lifetime bond of two people joined together by God. The marriage is indissoluble and it can only be broken by death. It is an image between Christ and his mystical body. Husband and wife, through the sacrament of matrimony, partake in the divine life of God.

For the Catholic, the union in the presence of God and the celebration of the mass is a calling by God to be holy. They are part of God's creative act with children born of this union. And the parents in turn will lead their children to God.

God makes no mistake. If after a prayerful time, the bride and groom marry, we know that God will be there in community with the family. God has given us the desire to give of ourselves to another. And having declared our faith to one another and to God, we set about to work out our salvation -- wife helping husband and husband helping wife become more like Jesus. This is an ongoing process from the first "I do" to the "last kiss" before we die. The bride and groom have to set aside their egos, their selfishness, their desire to excel in the world and devote time together to help one another reach our final destination--eternal life with God. Then the children (so blessed as gifts from God) help us put aside the "old self" of anger, resentment, deception, laziness, and help us find the "new self"--love , kindness, mercy, self giving and compassionate as we grow in love with them.

Prayer: Dearest Lord, we were meant to not walk alone. Whether our walk consists of walking with our spouse, or the priest and religious walking with you, or friends walking together, we were meant to celebrate life together. Thank you for showing us how to love and how to help one another. I pray that you will continue to bless all marriages. Amen

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